Angelina Jolie's revelation in the New York Times that she underwent voluntary double mastectomy isn't one of those celebrity doings that makes serious people roll their eyes.

The actress explained she recently underwent the surgery, which involved removal and reconstruction of both breasts, because her genetic risk of breast cancer is so high.

"I think it's wonderful. I think she is using her social position responsibly to transmit a very important message," said Dr. Lisa Torp, a surgeon and medical director of PinnacleHealth System's breast care center.

Pat Halpin-Murphy of the Pennsylvania Breast Cancer Coalition said: "I thank her for making her story public, because she has an important message for women who have the genetic strain of breast cancer … they need to be tested."

In an op-ed piece published Tuesday, Jolie explained that her mother died of breast cancer at 56, about a decade after being diagnosed.

"I wanted to write this to tell other women that the decision to have a mastectomy was not easy. But it is one I am very happy that I made. My chances of developing breast cancer have dropped from 87 percent to under 5 percent. I can tell my children that they don’t need to fear they will lose me to breast cancer."

Because of family history, she had opted for testing which showed she had a gene abnormality, BRCA1, which affects a gene that normally helps suppress cell growth. The abnormality greatly increases the risk of both breast and ovarian cancer. People with a similar abnormality or "mutation," BRCA2, also have higher risk for both cancers.

Tests for BRCA1 or BRCA2 are recommended for women regarded as being at especially high risk for breast cancer. These include women who have close relatives, such as their mother, sister or aunt, who have had breast cancer before age 50, who have had two or more separate instances of breast cancer, who have had ovarian cancer, or who have the BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene abnormality.

Both men and women can pass BRCA1 or BRCA2 to their children, who have a 50 percent chance of getting it.

Still, the two mutations, while greatly increasing the cancer risk for those who have them, are present present in only 5-10 percent of women who get breast cancer, both Torp and Halpin-Murphy noted.

Torp said she and her partner recommend tests for the abnormality for about 200 women per year, with roughly ten percent having the abnormality.

Of those, the "majority" opt for the preventive mastectomy chosen by Jolie. However, Jolie and Torp pointed out the surgery greatly reduces the risk but doesn't eliminate it entirely.

Torp says she does about 8-10 mastectomies per year for women whose situation is similar to Jolie's. She does an additional amount for women who have already had cancer and want to reduce their risk.

Torp, who has worked with breast cancer patients for 17 years, said preventive mastectomies have become much more common. She attributes this to the availability of tests to identify women at exceptionally high risk, and of high-quality reconstruction.

"We're seeing increases in mastectomy rates across the country," she said.

Torp also pointed women who chose not to have mastectomy can also take protective measures to lower their risk. These include an aggressive schedule of imaging and screenings to test for breast cancer and ovarian cancer, and preventive drugs such as tamoxifen, which reduce the risk of breast cancer in people at high risk.

Those who chose the approach of preventive mastectomy also are advised to consider having their ovaries removed, as a precaution against ovarian cancer, once they no longer plan to bear children, Torp said.

In her op-ed, Jolie urged public support to help people with lower incomes afford to be tested for the genetic mutations, and noted the test costs more than $3,000.

Torp said it has become much more common for health insurers to cover preventive mastectomies when the test shows the mutation and high risk. But it can be hard to get the test covered, she said. Another common barrier, even if the policy covers it, is high deductibles and cost sharing that can make it hard to afford, she said.

Jolie, who is married to actor Brad Pitt, wrote: "On April 27, I finished the three months of medical procedures that the mastectomies involved. During that time I have been able to keep this private and to carry on with my work … But I am writing about it now because I hope that other women can benefit from my experience. Cancer is still a word that strikes fear into people’s hearts, producing a deep sense of powerlessness. But today it is possible to find out through a blood test whether you are highly susceptible to breast and ovarian cancer, and then take action."

While Halpin-Murphy and Torp appreciate the increased awareness resulting from Jolie's op-ed, which has proved highly popular on the web, each noted that it's common for women to become convinced they are at high risk, and need to take drastic measures.

They said it's important that they talk to breast cancer professionals who can counsel them regarding their risks and what measures they should take.

There were about 10,300 new breast cancer cases among women in Pennsylvania in 2012, according to the American Cancer Society. Nationally, about 39,500 died of the disease.

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